World Biomes

Follow along with your note packet to add/modify any notes you took

as you read the chapter.

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/

Tropical Rainforest

Location: Found near equator…little variation in temperatures. No distinct seasonal changes.

Earth's most complex land biome

Tropical Rainforest Abiotic factors high biodiversity and

biomass both hot and moist; ideal for bacteria and other

microorganisms; they quickly decompose matter on the forest floor allowing nutrients to be recycled.

<1 cm of topsoil About 100in / 400cm/yr of

rainfall

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysfl

Bougainvillea

Sunlight is a major limiting factor

Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light)

Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and poor in nutrients

Little sun reaches the floor

Tropical Rainforest

Plant adaptations

Bangul Bamboo

Many symbiotic relationships

Live in different levels of forest

Wagler’s pit viper

Silvery Gibbon

Slender Lorishttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm

Tropical Rainforest

Animal Adaptations

Many animals are specialists and require special habitat components to survive

Camouflage is common

Threats to the Tropical Rainforest

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm

Humans strip the rainforests for uses including logging and cattle ranching.

In addition to the plants and animals that are displaced by this destruction, entire civilizations of people are also without a home.

You can help by promoting sustainable use of the rainforests’ products

Temperate Deciduous Forests Location: found in temperate zone

(about 480 North lat) Much of the human population lives in this biome

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html

Characterized by an abundance of deciduous (leaf bearing) trees

Soils: Deep soil layers, rich in nutrients

Precipitation: 30–100 in/yr in all forms (snow, rain, hail, fog, etc.)

Characterized by 4 seasons:Sunlight, temperature, precipation

Temperate Deciduous ForestsAbiotic Factors

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html

More diverse than the coniferous forest due to increased sunlight.

Trees adapt to varied climate by becoming dormant in winter

White BirchBirchhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/

deciduous_plant_page.htm

Lady Fern

Geulder Rose

Temperate Deciduous forest Plant adaptations

Deciduous forests grow in layers

More diverse than the tropical rainforest because of the soil so you will find more ground dwelling plants.

Lose Winter Coat/feathers

360 swivel Webbed feet Speed Camouflage Wing span Quill smell

Bald Eagle

Fat Dormouse

Least Weasel

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_page.htm

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Animal Adaptations

Threats to Temperate Deciduous Forests

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html

Many forests are cleared to provide housing for humans.

Careful use of the resource can provide a renewable system if we don’t take too much habitat away.

Taiga aka

Northern Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest

Location: Found only in Northern Hemisphere containing mainly conifers

TaigaAbiotic factors

Winters are long and cold

Averages 100 in/yr precipitation—mostly snow

Soil poor in nutrients and very acidic

Growing season is very short

http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/modules/

ecosystems_biomes/biomes_northern_forest.html

Balsam Fir

Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are abundant

Roots long to anchor trees Needles long, thin and waxy Low sunlight and poor soil keeps

plants from growing on forest floorhttp://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/plants.htm

Fireweed

Taiga Plant adaptations

Moose

Adapt for cold winters1 Burrow2 hibernate3 warm coat: fur/feathers4 blubber: insulation5 color (camouflage)

http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/animals.htm

Great Grey Owl

Animal Adaptations of the Taiga

Threats to the Taiga

Mining operations can irreparably damage this fragile ecosystem.

Pollution left behind can also put animals and plants at risk.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm

Savannas (Tropical Grasslands) Contain the greatest number of grazing animals on Earth.

Location: Found in the tropics…near equator Amount of precipitation supports tall grasses but only occasional

trees.The word savanna stems from an Amerind term for plains http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/savanna/savanna.html

Tropical SavannaAbiotic Factors

Rainy and dry season 25-150 in/yr precipitation

Fire plays a large role in this ecosystem

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/savannah.html

Whistling Thorn

Umbrella Thorn AcaciaTropical Savanna

Plant Adaptations

Grows in Tufts Resistance to Drought Many plants have thorns and

sharp leaves to protect against predation.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_plant_page.htm

Kangaroos Paws Baobab

Adapt for short rainy season—migrate as necessary

Limited food leads to vertical feeding

Reproduce during rainy season—ensures more young survive

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_page.htm

Zebras

Chacma Baboon

Tropical SavannaAnimal Adaptations

Threats to the Tropical Savanna

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_page.htm

Invasive species

Changes in fire management

Because of their low elevation, some savannas are threatened by minor rises in sea level associated with global climate change

Koala

Elephant

Desert Ecosystems

Location: Depending on type of desert, you will find them in various locations.

Desert Abiotic factors

<10 in/yr of rain

Little to no topsoil due to high winds.

Minerals not deep in soil.

Too dry for decay

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html

While there are many types of deserts, they all share one characteristic: They are the driest places on Earth!

Joshua Tree http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm

Desert Plant Adaptations:

Spines Succulents Thick, waxy cuticle Shallow, broad

roots

Barrel Cactus

Ocotollio

Desert Animal Adaptations: Get water from food Thick outer coat Burrow during day Large ears= hear predators and cool

down Smaller animals =

less surface area

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.htm

Javelina

Bob Cat

Armadillo Lizard

Threats to the Desert

Humans:1 Residential development

2 Off road recreational activities destroy habitat for plants and animals.

3 Some plants are removed by collectors, endangering the population…land scaping

Sonoran Desert

Dry Desert

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html

Tundra

Location: Found north of the Arctic Circle

Tundra Abiotic Factors <25 in/year Temp rarely higher than 100C Permafrost layer Short growing season

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html

Tundra Plant AdaptationsGrowing close to the ground

Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water resources.

Trees grow less than 1 m high!

cottongrass

Reindeer lichen

Perennials

Woody shrubs

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html

Heaths

Examples of Tundra Plants

Many visitors, migration

Few predators

Little Competition

Small ears

Insulation, thick coat

Arctic foxsnowy owl

Grizzly Bear

Tundra Animal Adaptations

Threats to the Tundra

-One of the most fragile biomes on the planet

-Slow to recover

Human Threat:

oil drilling in Alaska

pollution

Tufted Saxifrage

Polar Bear

Freshwater Ecosystems• Salinity <0.5 ppt.• Lake are the deepest of fresh water systems• Lakes are fed by underground aquifer or stream• Ponds are fed by rainfall and may be seasonalhttp://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/

Ponds

• Sun can reach bottom• Fed by rainfall• May be seasonal• Algae and plants

throughout

Microscopic Animals and Algae

Lakes and ponds—Abiotic Factors

Littoral zone: nutrient rich area found close to shore

Benthic zone: bottom of the lake where no sunlight can reach.

www.dnr.wi.gov

www.uwsp.edu

• Plants are floating algae and plants along shoreline

• Animals live in or near water

Lakes and ponds: Plants and Animals Adaptations

Threats to lakes and ponds

All water systems are being polluted and degraded by human impactwww.aquaticbiomes.gov

Marshhttp://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/wetlands/

Uses: Animal/

plant homes

Carbon “sink”

Water recharge areas, removing pollutants

Types: Brackish and freshwater

Marsh—Plant adaptations

• Very shallow with land occasionally exposed

• Saturated soil • Low oxygen in water

and soil• Emergent plants

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

Heron

RiversAt

headwaters, usually cold and highly oxygenated. As it flows, it will broaden out, warm up and this completely changes the biota you’ll find!

River: Plant and Animal Adaptations

Will vary based on where in the river they are…at the headwaters, organisms need to hang on!

www.3d-screensaver-downloads.com

www.cs.dartmouth.edu

Threats to Rivers

Industry uses water to dispose of waste products

Runoff from homes and other places causes changes in acidity, pollution, etc.

Dams alter the flow of the water

www.nwk.usace.army.mil

Estuarieshttp://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/sandy/

• Fresh and salt water meet

Plant and Animal Adaptations of Estuaries

Very productive biome because it receives lots of light and nutrients

Often used as nursery for young

www.lookoutnow.com & www.visualparadox.com

Manatee and goose

Threats to Estuaries

Many ports are found on estuaries—pollution

Human population

www.davenewbould.co.uk

pers-erf.org

Oceanshttp://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/sandy/

Ocean Abiotic factors

Open ocean is one of the least productive areas on earth, too little sunlight to support plant growth

Covers nearly ¾ of the Earth’s surface.

http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_aquatic.htm

Plants are micro and macroscopicHave floating plants (kelp shown here)

Ocean Plant adaptations

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/norma/onfrm.htm

Ocean Animal Adaptations

Zooplankton—sea’s smallest herbivoresDeep ocean

animals feed on detritus—floating debris in the water column.

http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1951.htm

Hammerhead

Lion fish

Threats to the Oceans

While the oceans are vast, they are becoming more polluted

Overfishing and some fishing methods are destroying fishing grounds. http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_aquatic.htm

Polar Ecosystems

Can be considered marine ecosystems since the base of food chain is phytoplankton

www.defenders.org

www.awi-bremerhaven.de

Arctic vs. AntarcticArctic

Relatively shallow, lots of nutrients for large variety of animals in food web, People, seals and polar bears found here.

nmml.afsc.noaa.gov

AntarcticPenguins live here—only continent not used by humans (exc. Research)

Threats to the Polar Ecosystems

Reserves of minerals draw humans to these fragile ecosystems.

The main threat to wildlife has been the increase in tourism—garbage left behind

newt.phys.unsw.edu.au